Most children – and plenty of adults – love to hang out with animals, and Skåne has plenty of places where you can take a walk on the wild side.

Animal parks and zoos in Skåne

Tropikariet, Helsingborg

Tropikariet in Helsingborg is a fabulous little private zoo that packs a lot into its several floors. It’s all indoors, so great for both wet and very hot days, and it has a large giftshop plus a café where you can get snacks and light meals with a view of the mongooses.

Expect to see a whole host of creatures, including lemurs, small monkeys, snakes, reptiles, and much more, often fairly close as they are allowed to roam freely, and there’s a small aquarium too.

There’s a small car park (charges apply) and a McDonald’s next door.

Website: www.tropikariet.com

Address: Hävertgatan 21, 254 42 Helsingborg

Skanes Djurpark, Höör

Skanes Djurpark is a huge animal park just outside Höör in central Skåne. Set over a couple of hills – expect tired legs by the end of the day – there’s a focus on Nordic animals including deer, bears, wolves, foxes, badgers, wild boar, wolverines and more. Or for non-Nordic animals, be sure to check out the animated life-size dinosaurs.

There are also several playgrounds and other places to get physically active, and a short ride based on Shaun the Sheep. In summer you can take swimming things and cool off in the splash area and water slide (you can also access a swim spot at the nearby Vaxsjön here, but it’s a long walk and much quicker to visit the lake separately – ask me how I know).

The park also boasts several places to eat – or take a picnic (of course there are places to stop and grill korv) – and you can even stay the night: read our article about staying in the tents at Camp Oak and the cabins at Wild Lodge here.

There’s a large car park (charges apply). The park is mainly outdoors, so best suited to good weather.

Website: www.skanesdjurpark.se

Address: 150, 243 93 Jularp

Ystad Djurpark, Ystad

Another large, outdoor animal park, although slightly flatter than Skanes Djurpark, Ystad Djurpark has some more exotic animals including parrots, camels, meerkats, tamarins, zebras and more (don’t miss the crocodile house by the entrance/exit!), alongside farm animals including pigs, goats, donkeys and rabbits. In many cases you can get incredibly close to the animals, and, unlike Skanes Djurpark, you can take your dog, which is sure to be exciting for your canine friend.

There are a few small playgrounds scattered around, plus a shop, a café, various picnic spots, and a couple of ice cream kiosks. There’s also a large unheated outdoor pool for those hot sunny days, so be sure to take your towel and cozzie. There are a few indoor areas but you’ll mostly be outside, so again it’s best suited for good weather (ask me how I know).

Website: www.ystaddjurpark.se

Address: Skårby, 27191 Ystad

Helsingborgs Djurpark

At Helsingborgs Djurpark, you can see animals including wallabies, alpacas, lemurs, and skunks, and there’s a tropicarium with snakes, lizards and amphibians. The children’s zoo offers friendly bunnies, goats and more, and there’s the option to feed the lemurs for an additional 65 sek. There’s an adjoining play area with trampolines, bouncy castles, rides and more. There’s a café, and picnics are allowed.

Website: www.djurparken-hbg.se

Address: Rausvägen 671, 253 51 Påarp

Moose safaris in Skåne (or nearby)

Söderåsens Älgpark, Kågeröd

Visit the moose via a 45-60 minute ride through their enclosure on a covered wagon pulled by a tractor. Entrance includes the safari ride, parking, and access to the friendly goats and a children’s play area. There’s a shop where you can buy snacks and gifts, and a place where you can grill korv purchased from the shop.

Website: www.soderasensmoosepark.com

Address: Lierna 1371, 26876 Kågeröd

Smålandet Älgsafari, Markaryd

Smålandet actually falls just outside Skåne’s northern border, but we’re including it here for those who live in the north of the county.

Here you can drive through the moose enclosure in your own car and try to spot the moose and American bison amongst the trees, or alternatively, for a small extra fee, ride the train along the 3 km long trail. There’s also a gift shop, a restaurant, and a café which sells waffles and other snacks.

Website: www.smalandet.se

Address: Misterhult 2032, 28591 Markaryd

Other animal experiences in Skåne

Malmö Reptile Centre, Malmö

We absolutely love Folkets Park in Malmö anyway, for its great playgrounds, theatre and seasonal events, and we also love the Malmö Reptile Centre, tucked in one corner of the park, even though it’s one of the few parts of the park you need to pay for – it’s a great place to warm up on cold days, shelter from the sun on hot days, and see monkeys and bats and listen to parrots super close up any day of the year.

Most of the display (as you’d expect from its name) is given over to a huge variety of snakes, lizards and frogs, but you’ll also find a few caymans, a myna bird who will absolutely not talk to me, and some fantastic small monkeys. We especially love the parrots, who will cackle, chat and imitate local traffic.

There’s a decent toilet, and a small gift shop where you can also get ice creams and drinks. There is limited street parking nearby.

Website: www.malmoreptilcenter.se

Address: Norra Parkgatan 2, Malmö, inside Folkets Park

The aquarium at Malmö Castle, Malmö

Part of Malmö Museum, Malmö Castle contains a small but enjoyable aquarium where you can see fish, frogs, snakes, spiders and more. There’s a café on site and a gift shop.

Apparently you can also visit the rest of Malmö Castle but, full disclosure, we have not yet done so!

There is limited street parking nearby, or walk 10-15 minutes from Malmö C station or take the bus – details on the website.

Website: www.malmo.se/Uppleva-och-gora/Konst-och-museer/Malmo-museum/Akvariet.html

Address: Malmöhusvägen 6, 211 18 Malmö

Bosjökloster Slott and garden, Höör

Bosjökloster is a small castle/former nunnery in central Skåne where you can walk the short loop to visit the llamas, alpacas, goats and miniature ponies, plus pet the rabbits in the play area. There’s a café and it’s an absolute bargain – kids are free and adults are just 120 sek or get an annual pass for 200 sek. The entrance fee includes parking and boat rental on the Östra Ringsjön (pick up oars and life jackets at reception), and you can also swim in the lake.

Website: www.bosjokloster.se

Address: Bosjökloster 111, 243 95 Höör

Horse riding mid-Skåne with Aspås Turridning

Pony trekking on Icelandic ponies for adults and children from age 4+ in the middle of Skåne.

Website: www.aspasturridning.com (the website address is correct, scroll down to see their content)

Address: Fulltofta 4723, 242 94 Hörby

Hembygdsparken Ängelholm, Ängelholm

Visit pigs, goats, hens and more in the children’s farm at this large park on the outskirts of Ängelholm in NW Skåne, plus you can also ride ponies in summer. There are various museums (possibly open in summer only), a variety of play areas and a theatre. Entrance to the park is free although charges may apply for some activities.

Website: www.engelholmshembygdspark.se/hembygdsparker/engelholm-hembygdspark

Address: Thorslundsgatan 13, 262 33 Ängelholm

The children’s farm at Lögnäs Gård

Lögnäs Gård is a hotel and spa which, again, falls just over the northern border of Skåne in Hallands county, but may be a good fit for our northerly readers. At the children’s farm, children can meet and play with mini pigs Doris & Daisy, dwarf goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits, and the entrance fee includes a small snack. There’s also a playground (and playroom for colder, wetter days) and more – their website advertise that you can play chess with the goats, and we were delighted to learn that this is not a mistranslation.

You can also of course stay overnight at the hotel, and children are allowed in the spa until 6 pm every day except Wednesdays.

Website: www.lognasgard.se

Address: Lögnäsvägen 62, 312 96 Laholm

What have we missed? Get in touch and let us know!